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An estimated 14 million visitors are lured to London every year, pumping billions of pounds into the local and national economy. Whether tourists are attracted by sites of interest like Buckingham Palace or by the diverse range of London nights  out that can be enjoyed, the English capital is consistently a major destination for sightseers. Yet, it’s also a notoriously expensive city to visit so we’ve compiled a few guidelines to ensure that your next trip to London is not financially crippling.

Trafalger Square by Dr.Flemming

Soak up some free culture

Unlike some other major European cities, London has free museums in bountiful supply. Although you may be charged to see a selection of major exhibitions, there is plenty to see before you need to open your wallet and there’s a real variety as well. From checking out the latest in cutting-edge contemporary art at the Tate Modern on the banks of the River Thames to getting up close and personal with a Tyrannosaurus Rex at the National History Museum, people of all ages are catered for. Other free museums include the National Gallery, the Science Museum, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory.

Explore on foot

Shun the London Underground and rip-off bus and boat tours in favour of covering as much of the central city as you can by foot. London’s main landmarks are all concentrated in an area that’s nowhere near as big as it looks on the map, so pound the pavements to see the likes of Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Tower Bridge in a day because they’re all a reasonable distance walk away from each other. And there’ll be a ton of other significant buildings that you’ll encounter along the way, the type that you’d miss if you hopped on the Tube. If you do have to get the Tube for whatever reason, then an off-peak travelcard for zones 1 and 2 is great value at £6.60 for an adult, as it allows you unlimited travel on the day of purchase. Buy an Oyster card if you’re going to be based in London for some time as it works out even cheaper.

Roam around on two wheels

London may not quite be a cycle-friendly city in the same way that, say, Amsterdam is, but it still has plenty of parks and vast green open spaces to get out and discover should you feel the need to escape the packed pavements and public transport networks. Hiring a bike has also never been more convenient thanks to an initiative started in 2010. The Barclays Cycle Hire scheme means you pay a small access fee, pick up your temporary set of wheels at one of the 400 docking stations dotted all over London and then roam around to your heart’s content. It’s effectively a pay-as-you-pedal deal. Here’s a helpful hint: the first 30 minutes are free of charge so cycle for half an hour, abandon the bike at the nearest docking station and then grab another bike and repeat as many times as you like.

Get off the beaten track

Visiting a few of the costly attractions in London will soon make a sizeable dent on your travel funds so you really need to pick and choose wisely. The London Eye is one of the most popular attractions in the UK and going on it is a brilliant experience as you can see for about 25 miles from the top – 40 miles on a clear day. That said, though, it works out quite expensive considering you only spend 30 minutes on it. It costs the best part of £20 per adult – or £18.60 to be more precise – if you turn up on the day, while a family of four could pay as much as £56. Another place to get breath-taking views of the city for a fraction of the price is by heading up the nearby Monument, which costs just £3. That’s just one example of how you can always find good alternative attractions that provide real value for money.

Article compiled by Emma Barnes.